Cape Breton Screaming Eagles edge Sea Dogs to clinch 12th spot

Mathias Laferrière, right, of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles works his way around Bailey Webster of the Saint John Sea Dogs during Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action at Centre 200 on Friday. Cape Breton won the game 3-2. - Jeremy Fraser

SYDNEY, N.S. — Isiah Campbell’s third-period goal against his former team proved to be the deciding factor as the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles edged the Saint John Sea Dogs 3-2 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action at Centre 200 on Friday.

Campbell, who was traded to the Screaming Eagles in January, netted his eighth goal of the season just past the five-minute mark of the third period, a goal that ultimately proved to be the game winner.

With the win, the Screaming Eagles improve their record to 31-28-6-2 and officially clinch the No. 12 seed in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League standings with one regular season game remaining.

Meanwhile, the defending President Cup champion Saint John Sea Dogs, who were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs last week, had their record fall to 14-42-9-2 on the season.

“I think that offensively we did a lot of good things, we hung on to the puck and showed a lot of resilience offensively,” said Marc-André Dumont, Screaming Eagles head coach and general manager.

“Defensively, if Kevin Mandolese doesn’t make the key stops, I don’t think it’s a 3-2 game. He made some key stops at some key moments.”

Saint John opened the scoring in the game with rookie Luke Wilson’s goal at the halfway mark of the first period, a goal assisted by Cole Reginato of Albert Bridge.

The Screaming Eagles answered minutes later with captain Phélix Martineau netting his 31st goal of the season. Cape Breton took the lead shortly after with Brooklyn Kalmikov, the game’s first star, finding the back of the net, making the score 2-1.

After the teams traded scoring chances in the second period, Campbell extended the Screaming Eagles’ lead to 3-1 with his goal, which was followed by Wilson scoring his second goal of the game, but that’s as close as the Sea Dogs would come.

Cape Breton’s Kevin Mandolese made 21 saves and picked up an assist on Campbell’s game-winner. Meanwhile Saint John’s Tommy DaSilva, a former prospect of the Screaming Eagles, stopped 38 of 41 shots in his first career QMJHL game at Centre 200.

The Screaming Eagles went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Saint John went 0-for-1 with the man advantage.

Cape Breton outshot Saint John 41-23.

The Screaming Eagles and Sea Dogs will wrap up the regular season Saturday afternoon when the team’s meet at 4 p.m. at Centre 200 in Sydney.

The Screaming Eagles will wear special Irish-green jerseys in support of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation’s cancer patient care fund.

Game Notes: The Saint John Sea Dogs signed goaltender Owen MacPhee of Sydney after team goaltenders Alex D’Oiro and Matthew Williams were injured. MacPhee played this season with the Riverview Redmen of the Cape Breton High School Hockey League. The Screaming Eagles were also forced to called up a backup. Ryan Miller of Inverness dressed for Friday’s game following an injury to Kyle Jessiman. Dumont said Jessiman suffered a lower-body injury on Wednesday in Moncton and the team hopes he will be on the ice next week.